Announce vs Declare

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Announce

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Declare

FormalTop 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most formal: DeclareMost common: Announce
 AnnounceDeclare
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈnaʊns/","/əˈnaʊnsɪz/","/əˈnaʊnst/","/əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈnaʊns/","/əˈnaʊnsɪz/","/əˈnaʊnst/","/əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈkleə(r)/","/dɪˈkleəz/","/dɪˈkleəd/","/dɪˈkleərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈkler/","/dɪˈklerz/","/dɪˈklerd/","/dɪˈklerɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTo make something known to many peopleTo say something officially or publicly.
ExampleThey will announce the results of the competition tomorrow.The president will declare the new policy during the press conference.
RegisterNeutralFormal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1B2
Part of speechverbverb
Collocationsformally, officially, publicly, be expected to, expect to, be delighted to, to, formally, officially, publicly, be expected to, expect to, be delighted to, tovirtually, immediately, promptly, to, virtually, immediately, promptly, to
Antonymsconceal, hidedeny, disclaim, suppress
Common mistakesConfusing it with 'notify'; 'announce' is more public, Using it without an object; 'announce' needs something to announce, Using it in passive voice incorrectly; it is usually activeUsing 'declare' without an object (e.g., 'I declare' alone is often incomplete), Confusing 'declare' with 'proclaim' which has a different nuance, Saying 'declaring for' instead of 'declaring to be' when stating identity or status
Usage notesUse 'announce' for formal and neutral contexts, such as public speeches or official statements. Avoid in very casual situations.Used in formal contexts such as legal, government, or academic settings. Avoid in casual conversations. Commonly used when making announcements or stating intentions.

See it in real clips

Announce
Declare

Frequently asked questions: Announce vs Declare

What's the difference between Announce and Declare?

Announce: To make something known to many people Declare: To say something officially or publicly.

Which is more formal: Announce and Declare?

Declare is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Announce and Declare?

Announce is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Announce and Declare?

Declare is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Announce and Declare the same CEFR level?

Announce: B1, Declare: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Announce and Declare?

Announce: verb, Declare: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Announce: They will announce the results of the competition tomorrow. Declare: The president will declare the new policy during the press conference.

Can I use Announce and Declare interchangeably?

Not always. Announce and Declare are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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